DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The Palm Beach Atlantic men's basketball team finished its streak of road games on Wednesday at Embry-Riddle.
The Sailfish (9-5, 3-3 SSC) hung with the Eagles (9-5, 3-3 SSC) for most of the game but couldn't string together a run that they needed to take down ERAU. PBA scored 69 points in the game, its lowest mark of the season. The 'Fish shot 40 percent as a team as the Eagles fended them off, 76-69.
Grant Ledford turned in his best performance of the season for the Sailfish. He led the 'Fish with 24 points and 12 rebounds with four steals.
Trent McNair scored 14 points with five rebounds.
Will Lee and
Jamaal Walker recorded 10 points each.
The Sailfish flexed some defensive muscle in the first half. The Eagles started slow on the offensive end allowing PBA to build a nine-point lead at the nine-minute mark in the first period. A 13-4 run from ERAU swung the momentum and gave the hosts a 31-23 lead with two minutes to play in the half. Offense became a struggle for the Sailfish, shooting 30 percent in the half. The Eagles led at halftime, 37-26.
The 'Fish seemed to improve on the offensive end coming out of the break, grabbing some quick buckets on a pair of back-cuts. Some untimely turnovers cost the Sailfish and allowed the Eagles to increase their lead to 15 with seven minutes left to play. With just over four minutes left, the Sailfish tried to chip away at the deficit by getting to the free throw line. A layup from Ledford made it a five-point game with 1:36 to play. PBA was able to force a turnover and shoot a 3-pointer that would've cut the deficit to two down the stretch, but it was off the mark. PBA's run was too little too late, as the Eagles won 76-69.
PBA shot 50 percent in the second half to improve its mark for the game to 40 percent. The 'Fish were outshot by the Eagles, shooting 46 percent in the game, making all the difference. PBA won the rebounding battle 40-36. The Sailfish recorded three more points off turnovers than ERAU and scored more second-chance points. Ledford scored 18 of his 24 in the second half.
The Sailfish return home on Saturday in a game against Saint Leo. The game in Rubin Arena tips off at 4 p.m.
